Climate justice

Not Just Celsius

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A multimedia campaign on climate justice

notjustcelsius.com

Climate Crisis

Climate impacts

Climate Witness

Education

Responsibility

Youth

Everyday Changemakers

Civil society

Science

Workshop

Participation

App

Climate change affects us all, but its consequences do not impact everyone equally. Those hit hardest are often those who have contributed the least to global warming. Not Just Celsius powerfully illustrates how closely climate change and inequality are intertwined, and highlights the role that collective action and the use of international law can play in advancing climate justice.

The image shows a heavily damaged house with its roof partially collapsed. In the foreground, large amounts of wood, rubble, and debris are scattered. Palm trees stand in the background, while a dark, threatening sky looms overhead. The scene conveys devastation, likely caused by a storm, hurricane, or other extreme weather event. — Impacts of climate disasters (credit: iStock)

From 2022 to 2024, Not Just Celsius supported a youth-led movement for climate justice. Its aim was to bring the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to issue an Advisory Opinion on the relationship between climate change and human rights – an unprecedented process on a global scale. With this initiative, visionary youth organizations aimed to hold governments legally accountable – pushing them toward adopting ambitious climate action and enforcing lasting climate justice.

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The image shows a large group of mostly young people standing close together, smiling or cheering at the camera. They are holding colorful signs and banners with slogans such as ‘We are taking the world’s biggest problem to the world’s highest court!’, ‘Vote Yes for Climate Justice’ and ‘Our Survival’. Some banners are hand-painted, others printed. In the background, the sky and the sea can be seen. The atmosphere appears energetic and defiant, with the central focus on the demand for climate justice.

Taking Climate Justice to the World’s Highest Court

The initiative began in 2019, when the Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change (PISFCC), together with the World’s Youth for Climate Justice (WYCJ), launched a campaign to bring the most urgent issue of our time before the world’s highest court – the question of binding climate responsibility for states and internationally operating corporations. In 2021, the Pacific island state of Vanuatu took up this call and officially brought the matter before the United Nations. Two years later, in March 2023, the UN General Assembly adopted the resolution with an overwhelming majority, paving the way for a historic advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice.

Young people have a powerful voice when it comes to climate justice – but it becomes even stronger when we join forces and fight for a common cause.
Co-Founder & Chairwoman, World’s Youth for Climate Justice

The image shows a group of young people holding up signs at a demonstration. The posters display slogans such as “AO LET’S GO!”, “OUR VOTES at the ICJ,” and “OUR PLANET DEPENDS ON THE ICJAO!”. The protesters are demanding climate justice and highlighting the importance of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the ICJAO campaign.

The image shows a young man with curly hair and a dark jacket standing in front of the International Court of Justice in The Hague. He is holding a handwritten cardboard sign that reads “Taking the world’s biggest problem to the world’s highest court #ICJAO.”

The image shows several boats and canoes on the Hudson River in New York, carrying banners and sails with messages such as “VOTE YES FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE,” “AO LET’S GO,” and “YOUTH CLIMATE JUSTICE.” In the background, the Manhattan skyline is visible, including the UN Headquarters and the Empire State Building. The flotilla draws attention to the ICJAO campaign for climate justice.

The image shows a group of young people holding up signs at a demonstration. The posters display slogans such as “AO LET’S GO!”, “OUR VOTES at the ICJ,” and “OUR PLANET DEPENDS ON THE ICJAO!”. The protesters are demanding climate justice and highlighting the importance of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the ICJAO campaign.

The image shows a young man with curly hair and a dark jacket standing in front of the International Court of Justice in The Hague. He is holding a handwritten cardboard sign that reads “Taking the world’s biggest problem to the world’s highest court #ICJAO.”

The image shows several boats and canoes on the Hudson River in New York, carrying banners and sails with messages such as “VOTE YES FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE,” “AO LET’S GO,” and “YOUTH CLIMATE JUSTICE.” In the background, the Manhattan skyline is visible, including the UN Headquarters and the Empire State Building. The flotilla draws attention to the ICJAO campaign for climate justice.

The image shows a group of young people holding up signs at a demonstration. The posters display slogans such as “AO LET’S GO!”, “OUR VOTES at the ICJ,” and “OUR PLANET DEPENDS ON THE ICJAO!”. The protesters are demanding climate justice and highlighting the importance of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the ICJAO campaign.

The image shows a young man with curly hair and a dark jacket standing in front of the International Court of Justice in The Hague. He is holding a handwritten cardboard sign that reads “Taking the world’s biggest problem to the world’s highest court #ICJAO.”

The image shows several boats and canoes on the Hudson River in New York, carrying banners and sails with messages such as “VOTE YES FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE,” “AO LET’S GO,” and “YOUTH CLIMATE JUSTICE.” In the background, the Manhattan skyline is visible, including the UN Headquarters and the Empire State Building. The flotilla draws attention to the ICJAO campaign for climate justice.

The image shows a group of young people holding up signs at a demonstration. The posters display slogans such as “AO LET’S GO!”, “OUR VOTES at the ICJ,” and “OUR PLANET DEPENDS ON THE ICJAO!”. The protesters are demanding climate justice and highlighting the importance of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the ICJAO campaign.

The image shows a young man with curly hair and a dark jacket standing in front of the International Court of Justice in The Hague. He is holding a handwritten cardboard sign that reads “Taking the world’s biggest problem to the world’s highest court #ICJAO.”

The image shows several boats and canoes on the Hudson River in New York, carrying banners and sails with messages such as “VOTE YES FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE,” “AO LET’S GO,” and “YOUTH CLIMATE JUSTICE.” In the background, the Manhattan skyline is visible, including the UN Headquarters and the Empire State Building. The flotilla draws attention to the ICJAO campaign for climate justice.

Youth organizations demonstrating for climate justice and promoting the ICJ Advisory Opinion campaign

Mert Kumru, Europe Front Coordinator at World’s Youth for Climate Justice

Flotillas draw attention to the ICJ Advisory Opinion campaign on New York’s Hudson River

Youth organizations demonstrating for climate justice and promoting the ICJ Advisory Opinion campaign

Mert Kumru, Europe Front Coordinator at World’s Youth for Climate Justice

Flotillas draw attention to the ICJ Advisory Opinion campaign on New York’s Hudson River

Youth organizations demonstrating for climate justice and promoting the ICJ Advisory Opinion campaign

Mert Kumru, Europe Front Coordinator at World’s Youth for Climate Justice

Flotillas draw attention to the ICJ Advisory Opinion campaign on New York’s Hudson River

Youth organizations demonstrating for climate justice and promoting the ICJ Advisory Opinion campaign

Mert Kumru, Europe Front Coordinator at World’s Youth for Climate Justice

Flotillas draw attention to the ICJ Advisory Opinion campaign on New York’s Hudson River

With a cross-platform media campaign, Not Just Celsius made this complex process accessible to a broad public and created spaces where those members of affected communities, activists, lawyers, artists, and civil society organizations could come together.

The image shows two digital info cards designed like social media reels. On the left, a woman appears against a turquoise background with a yellow exclamation mark beside her. The text reads: “Why climate justice needs gender justice.” On the right, another woman is shown against a pink background with a yellow question mark next to her. The text reads: “Do future generations unjustly carry the climate burden?” The design is youthful, striking, and eye-catching. — NJC Instagram Explainer Videos

Formats

Under the inspiring initiative of our partners PISFCC and WYCJ, Not Just Celsius accompanied the so-called ICJ Advisory Opinion process with accessible, emotional, and activating media formats all the way to the world’s highest international court.

Not Just Celsius was built on a solid scientific and legal foundation. Its basis lay in agreements such as the Paris Agreement, the Kyoto Protocol, and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The campaign was accompanied by interdisciplinary research that linked legal questions with scientific data and societal perspectives. In this way, it became clear how the climate crisis and inequality are connected, and what responsibility states bear for present and future generations.

The photo shows a group of four people in a bright room with large windows. At the center sits a young woman wearing a white jacket, speaking with expressive gestures. In front of her are pens, paper, and a water bottle. To the left, a young man with glasses listens attentively, while on the right two other people, partly cropped, are involved in the conversation. The table is scattered with water bottles, cups, and writing materials.

The image shows two young women standing at an interactive station. One of them is pointing to a box labeled “HOW MUCH CO₂ HAS YOUR COUNTRY EMITTED?” and appears to be explaining something. The box invites people to use a QR code to access the “Scale Tool” and explore information about countries’ CO₂ emissions. Both women appear focused and engaged in conversation.

The image shows a close-up of hands holding a smartphone. On the screen, an interactive diagram displays historical CO₂ emissions (1950–2021). Papua New Guinea and Germany are being compared. The visualization uses angles and colored bars and shows a very high value (44.8°). At the bottom of the display, the website scale.notjustcelsius.com is visible.

The image shows a person taking a photo with a smartphone. On the phone’s screen, a woman in a sari is standing next to a digital installation displaying another woman in a long dress. In the background, the photographed woman can be seen blurred.

The photo shows a group of four people in a bright room with large windows. At the center sits a young woman wearing a white jacket, speaking with expressive gestures. In front of her are pens, paper, and a water bottle. To the left, a young man with glasses listens attentively, while on the right two other people, partly cropped, are involved in the conversation. The table is scattered with water bottles, cups, and writing materials.

The image shows two young women standing at an interactive station. One of them is pointing to a box labeled “HOW MUCH CO₂ HAS YOUR COUNTRY EMITTED?” and appears to be explaining something. The box invites people to use a QR code to access the “Scale Tool” and explore information about countries’ CO₂ emissions. Both women appear focused and engaged in conversation.

The image shows a close-up of hands holding a smartphone. On the screen, an interactive diagram displays historical CO₂ emissions (1950–2021). Papua New Guinea and Germany are being compared. The visualization uses angles and colored bars and shows a very high value (44.8°). At the bottom of the display, the website scale.notjustcelsius.com is visible.

The image shows a person taking a photo with a smartphone. On the phone’s screen, a woman in a sari is standing next to a digital installation displaying another woman in a long dress. In the background, the photographed woman can be seen blurred.

Climate Justice Story Lab Workshop in The Hague

Not Just Celsius Instagram Campaign

Exhibition at the Visitors Center of the International Court of Justice in The Hague

Our Interactive Data Tool – The Scale

Video Statements as Part of the Exhibition at the ICJ Visitors Center

Climate Justice Story Lab Workshop in The Hague

Not Just Celsius Instagram Campaign

Exhibition at the Visitors Center of the International Court of Justice in The Hague

Our Interactive Data Tool – The Scale

Video Statements as Part of the Exhibition at the ICJ Visitors Center

Your commitment and partnership mean so much to us and have made a real difference in this important work. We are deeply grateful to have you by our side on this journey.
World's Youth for Climate Justice

Not Just Celsius presented its formats on international stages, festivals, and conferences, giving supporters of the ICJ Advisory Opinion campaign a platform in the global discourse on climate justice.

The project was visible at the UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi, the COP28 Climate Conference in Dubai, ImpactFest in The Hague, the Silbersalz Festival in Germany, and the Long Night of the Sciences in Berlin. Special recognition went to the data tool The Scale, which was longlisted in 2024 for the Information is Beautiful Awards in the Humanitarian category. In this way, Not Just Celsius helped amplify the voices of the ICJ Advisory Opinion campaign and bring its demands into the global public sphere.

The image shows a panel discussion with six people on stage. In the background, a large screen displays the title “No Climate Justice without Decolonisation.” The screen lists the names and roles of the panelists, including activists, researchers, and advisors from different fields. The moderator stands on the right holding a microphone and speaking, while the panelists sit in chairs, some smiling, others looking thoughtful. The floor is covered with sand, creating an informal and open atmosphere for the discussion. — Panel at the Climate Justice Story Lab in The Hague

With Not Just Celsius, we pursued three key impact goals:

The Not Just Celsius project concluded in January 2025, but its digital tools, stories, and resources remain available to support future advocates and continue the fight for climate justice.

In July 2025, the International Court of Justice issued its advisory opinion, confirming the binding legal obligations of states to limit climate change – including the 1.5-degree target – as well as their responsibility to prevent harm, to care for present and future generations, and to regulate private actors.

Not Just Celsius helped ensure that this historic process was widely understood and actively accompanied by the public. For more information about our project, please visit notjustcelsius.com.

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